he escaped an abusive father in rural tennessee who beat him with pots and pans. both ohr and willis were adopted by white families who had to explain themselves to the neighbors. >> yeah, we can help him. everybody at the time was like, you don't have a clue what you're doing. >> reporter: the two have become life-long friends and outside practice today they told us how much they still truly love their adoptive parents. >> they've been there through the good and bad, the crazy years. so just to have him here this weekend to enjoy this experience is a blessing. >> it's truly amazing, knowing where we came from and it made us work a lot harder, i never take anything for grant it. >> reporter: no matter who wins the ring, they believe that greatness is not what they've achieved but what they've overcome. steve osunsami, abc news, atlanta. >> before we talk about that, we really want to see your team spirit before sunday's super bowl. so send us pictures displaying your team pride. >> that's right. prove to us you are the number one fan of the 49ers or the ravens. sh